Melton John Nygren

Melton John Nygren was born on June 2, 1932 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Rudolph and Alice Nygren, joining older brother Cliff and sister June. Dad spent his formative, elementary years in Minneapolis where he learned the value of hard work.

Mel graduated from Minnehaha Academy, a Covenant high school in 1950 where he met many lifelong friends. He worked summers and odd jobs to pay for his tuition and hitchhiked to and from school every day. Sports were a big part of his life. Mel went on to attend Bethel College in St Paul, MN and finished his teaching degree at St Cloud State Teachers College. He played football, baseball and wrestled throughout high school and college. He eventually earned a Masters degree at Cal State LA.

It was through his friends and Mary’s sister Marlys that he met his lifelong love Mary when she was almost 16 years old. They married on August 19, 1955 and enjoyed 69 years of marriage. They were quite a team. In August 1956, together they took a big risk— following an early nudge from God –the two of them set off for California with only the promise of an interview at North High in Torrance. They settled in Torrance where they experienced the huge growth of the South Bay. It was not long before they were introduced to other folks living near them who were interested in planting a new Covenant Church in the community. That was the beginning of Rolling Hills Covenant Church, chartered in 1958 in Rolling Hills Estates. The church thrived, sharing the gospel message and welcoming all who came with love and grace.

Missions was an enduring commitment in Mel’s life. In 1954 he took a carload of college students to the Urbana missions conference and it forever changed the way he looked at the importance of the gospel message globally and the priority of the church. In 1971, Mel and Mary loaded up their family in the 1965 Ford “Fugitive” camper and drove from LA to Anchorage and on to Unalakleet Alaska for a summer of service. This began a lifelong practice of mission focus that included trips to Mexico, Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America as well as serving as the interim mission pastor and President of Mission to Asia. He loved to personally encourage missionaries through his visits and generosity. He, along with Jim Creasman were instrumental in casting vision and building a passion for a vital missions ministry at Rolling Hills.

Mel retired in 1992, completing a rewarding career at West Torrance High School with 36 years of teaching, coaching and school counseling in the Torrance Unified School District. In addition to his professional career, Mel used his considerable construction talents to build room additions and complete various projects in his summers off. This initiated his eye and talent for real estate. He built an entire second career around rental property and hard work, training multiple generations of Nygrens to problem solve, paint apartments and hang curtains.

Mel’s family was a great joy to him. ‘Cell Mel’ loved to call and check in with his kids and grandkids. Nothing made him happier than being together with family, including his children Kari Adams (Ron), Dawn Silberberg (Kevin), Denise McKnight (Ben) and Todd Nygren (Kati), his 14 grandchildren; Andrew, Aaron, Cooper, Hannah, Jackson, Joel, Jenna, Coleman, Heidi, Anna, Markus, Liina, Lydia and Jonas, their spouses, and the 23 (and growing) great grandchildren. He is survived by his ‘Timeless Treasure’ Mary and the loving family mentioned above.